Every year, people across the globe ask the same question: where will I celebrate New Year’s Eve this year? If you’re looking for something a little more adventurous and spectacular than your regular New Year’s Eve celebration, celebrate New Year’s Eve away from home this year, in a global city where you can party like never before!

New York City, London and Paris all offer New Year’s Eve celebrations that will make December 31st 2012 a night to remember! For something else entirely, you can also try one of the bubbly cities in the South of France, such as Cannes or Nice, where the New Year’s Eve parties last all night long.

Let yourself be inspired by the New Year’s Eve celebrations across the globe listed in this article to ensure you’ll have the best New Year’s Eve yet!

New Year’s Eve in New York City

The ball drops in New York City’s Times Square on New Year’s Eve

Celebrating New Year’s Eve in New York City is nothing short of spectacular! Every year crowds gather in Times Square to watch the ball drop as a new year begins, and parties can be found across the city!

To start the evening, you can watch one of the many shows or concerts that are held annually on New Year’s Eve in New York City. For example, you can attend the annual New Year’s Eve Gala at the Lincoln Center in Manhattan. As midnight approaches, there are many venues across the city that host fabulous parties where you can party all night long. Do keep in mind that for many of the clubs you’ll have to buy tickets in advance for New Year’s Eve, and prices can be steep.

For the diehard partygoers, watching the ball drop in Times Square is of course something you’ll always remember. Attending the celebration in Times Square is completely free of charge, but you’ll have to arrive early on December 31st to get a good spot to watch the ball drop. People start arriving in the early morning and afternoon, so be sure you get there before evening. Keep in mind that you’ll have to stand on the same spot in the cold for several hours, so dress accordingly! You’re not allowed to bring big backpacks full of food, so try to stuff your coat with a thermos filled with a hot beverage and some snacks to get you through the night. Also remember to visit the bathroom before claiming a spot!

If you manage to stick it out, you’ll be among the one million lucky people who get to countdown to midnight to see the ball drop and gaze at the accompanying fireworks live from Times Square as the world watches on TV!

For those of you who enjoy a more relaxed New Year’s Eve, you can also watch the fireworks from the comfort of your own vacation rental apartment in New York City. Watch the ball drop on TV, and have a toast with your friends and family. If you do decide to hit the town, it’s also nice to be able to come back to your own comfortable apartment after a crazy night out in New York City!

London New Year’s Eve Events

Fireworks illuminate the skies at the London Eye on New Year’s Eve

The New Year’s Eve celebrations in London are equally impressive as those in New York City!

In recent years, the main celebrations in London have moved from Trafalgar Square towards the South Bank of the Thames, as spectacular fireworks light up the London Eye every year! Ring in the New Year beneath the amazing display of pyrotechnics, as the fireworks are reflected in the river. There are several designated viewing areas along the Thames, so you won’t have to arrive as early as you would’ve had to in Times Square. Check the Mayor of London’s official website for tips on where to watch the fireworks and when to arrive.

Before you head out to watch the fireworks, you can enjoy a proper New Year’s Eve dinner in any of London’s various pubs and restaurants. For an even more special dinner, book a river cruise with dining included. You’ll get to see many of London’s landmarks from the Thames, and some river cruises even offer a package that includes a viewing of the fireworks right from the river!

For a more affordable alternative, you can also choose to cook your own New Year’s Eve dinner in the fully equipped kitchen of your own London vacation rental apartment. Invite your family and friends to have an intimate New Year’s Eve party in London!

Celebrate New Year’s in Paris

The Champs Elysées and Arc de Triomphe in Paris at night

Paris does things a little bit differently on New Year’s Eve. There are no big fireworks displays at the stroke of midnight at the Champs de Mars. Instead, the Eiffel Tower is illuminated by a spectacular light show that starts at 12 am.

Parisians, like New Yorkers and Londoners, enjoy a big outdoor celebration on New Year’s Eve. They often bring their own champagne and picnic basket to the Champs de Mars to ring in the New Year with friends and family in style. Next to the Champs de Mars, the Champs Elysées is also a hotspot on New Year’s Eve. People flock to the famous shopping street as early as 9 pm on December 31st, and also bring champagne bottles to celebrate. Several smaller fireworks displays across the city can often be seen from the Champs Elysées. If you want a truly good view, the Sacre Coeur plaza is also a great option. On the steps of the grand church you’ll have a panoramic view of Paris as the fireworks light up the sky.

A quieter alternative is to celebrate New Year’s Eve at home in your Paris vacation rental apartment, as many Parisians do. Invite your friends and family, buy plenty of bottles of champagne, and kiss each other under the mistletoe at night, as is the tradition in France. For more tips on how to ring in the New Year in Paris, check out our blog article on the 2012 New Years in Paris. Wherever you choose to celebrate, you can be sure spending New Year’s Eve in Paris will make for a magical night.

New Year’s Eve in the South of France

Fireworks explode above the Mediterranean Sea on New Year’s Eve

Celebrating New Year’s Eve in the South of France is like stepping into another world. Imagine you’re standing on a beach in Cannes as fireworks explode above the Mediterranean Sea: you’ll feel like anything is possible this New Year’s Eve! After watching the spectacular fireworks from the beach or the Boulevard de la Croisette, you can head to one of Cannes’ many clubs to party until the early hours of the morning.

Cannes isn’t the only city in the South of France that knows how to throw a party. In Nice, for example, a New Year’s Eve concert will be held at the Acropolis, which will be a great new experience for celebrating New Year’s Eve.

If you’re thinking about spending New Year’s Eve on the Mediterranean Coast, we have many South of France vacation rentals available in and around cities such as Cannes, Nice, Saint Tropez and Marseille that can be the perfect base for a New Year’s Eve you’ll never forget!

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